Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals affirms Portland's decision to issue a building permit for apartment project in Kerns neighborhood

The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals this week affirmed the City of Portland’s decision to issue a building permit to a developer for an apartment building with no onsite parking in the Kerns neighborhood.

The LUBA decision, released Tuesday, comes on the heels of a similar case in which the board reversed the city’s decision to issue a building permit for an apartment project on Southeast Division Street.

In Tuesday’s ruling, LUBA rejected arguments made by a group called Kerns Neighbors for Rational Growth, which is opposed to a 50-unit apartment building at Northeast 30th Avenue and Burnside.

The developer for both projects is Dennis Sackhoff's Urban Development Group.

The new cases are the latest steps in a tug of war between neighborhood groups throughout the city and developers who are building apartment buildings with no onsite parking.

LUBA’s ruling on the Division Street project left the building permit invalid and forced the work crews to stop construction until the developer applies for and is granted another permit.